Classic Rock News

OSBOURNES WAGED EPIC BATTLE BEFORE RECONCILING
In her autobiography Unbreakable, Sharon Osbourne describes a violent physical altercation she and her husband Ozzy had on their way to avoiding divorce following his relapse into drugs and drinking last year. Sharon writes that during a meeting in Los Angeles, during which she asked for a divorce and half of Ozzy’s fortune, she tossed a cup of coffee at his head. “Then I grabbed him and pulled at his precious hair with one hand, while trying to yank off his jewelry with the other. He went for me, trying to grab me in a headlock.” The two eventually worked out their differences, with Ozzy completing another stint in rehab. Sharon recalls their first post-rehab meeting, writing, “It seemed like forever since I’d looked into my husband’s eyes, but now I was looking into sober eyes. The man I loved was present. I could tell he was relieved to be sitting next to me. I put my hand on his, took him in my arms and we cried.”
QUEEN WEBISODE OUTLINES BAND’S GLOBAL SUCCESS
The special bond between the members of Queen and their fans worldwide is the focus of the new webisode, We Are the Champions: The Legacy of Queen, which in turn touts the rock theatrical We Will Rock You, which begins its American run in Baltimore on October 15. In the webisode, band members Brian May and Roger Taylor talk about the group’s history and the immeasurable impact it’s had on fans across the globe. We Will Rock You runs through August 24, 2014 in Los Angeles.
MCCARTNEY TO HOLD FIRST EVER LIVE ONLINE TWITTER Q&A
Social media savvy fans of Paul McCartney will get their first chance to ask the former Beatle a question live online tomorrow when the rock legend hosts his first ever live online Twitter Q&A to plug his upcoming album, New, available October 15. The online back-and-forth will get underway tomorrow morning at 9:40a EST, and fans can submit their questions using the hashtag #AskMacca. New will be the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s first set of all-new material in over six years.
EPSTEIN BIOPIC ON TRACK FOR 2014 RELEASE
A long-delayed biopic focusing on the life of former Beatles manager Brian Epstein is finally back on track and producers hope to have the film in theaters next year. Deadline reports The Fifth Beatle will focus on the private life of the Fab Four’s manager, and unlike so many previous films about the group, this one will include songs from the band’s catalog on the soundtrack. Epstein died of an accidental overdose in 1967.
EDDIE VAN HALEN SUES CONTRACTOR OVER BOTCHED REMODELING JOB
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Eddie Van Halen is suing a contractor over shoddy work during a major remodeling job at the Van Halen axeman’s Los Angeles home. Van Halen is hauling the Troy Builders Group into court and seeking $1 million after work done at his home led to poor drainage and a leaky roof and chimney as well as poorly installed gutters, all of which allowed water to enter the home, causing mold damage. Van Halen is hoping to recoup the $1 million he claims he spent to fix the myriad problems.
DYLAN’S “SECRET” DAUGHTER TO WED LONGTIME PARTNER
The gay daughter of rock icon Bob Dylan is set to marry her longtime girlfriend next August in California following the recent law change that lifted the ban on same-sex marriage in California, but it is unknown whether the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will attend the ceremony. Desiree Dennis-Dylan, 27, whose mother was Dylan’s second wife and backup singer Carolyn Dennis, and her partner, Kayla Sampson, will say “I Do,” but Desiree’s future mother-in law, Jolene Sampson, says Desiree’s dad is invited to the wedding but he’s unlikely to attend because “He’s very famous.” But she added that Dylan “is really supportive and happy for her [Desiree].”
CBGB MOVIE SOUNDTRACK OUT TUESDAY, FILM OPENS OCTOBER 11
The story of New York’s legendary punk rock palace CBGB will be told in the upcoming and aptly titled film CBGB, opening in select theaters on October 11, but the stellar soundtrack will be available this Tuesday, October 8. CBGB: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be available in a standard edition featuring 20 tracks, and as a deluxe edition which holds 33 songs by pioneering rock and punk rockers such as the New York Dolls, Richard Hell & the Voidoids, the Stooges, MC5, Television, Talking Heads, the Velvet Underground, the Dead Boys, the Cramps, Blondie, the Count Five, the Misfits and the Police.
SOUNDGARDEN’S FIRST TWO EP’S TO BE REISSUED NEXT MONTH
Iconic Seattle-based indie record label Sub Pop has announced it will reissue Soundgarden’s first two EPs, Screaming Life/Fopp, on November 26. Screaming Life, featuring six songs including "Hunted Down” and “Hand of God,” was originally released in 1986, and the four-song Fopp, featuring the title track and “Swallow My Pride,” arrived in 1988.